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Prosecutors say three detained Al Jazeera journalists are among 20 people to face trial

Peter Greste, Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and Baher Mohamed have been in jail for a month

They are accused of holding illegal meetings with the banned Muslim Brotherhood

16 of the defendants are Egyptian; charges they face include belonging to terror group

Three Al Jazeera journalists detained for a month are among 20 people referred to Egypt's criminal court to face trial, Egyptian state media reported Wednesday.

Four of the 20 defendants are foreigners: Australian Al Jazeera correspondent Peter Greste, two unidentified Englishmen and one unnamed Dutchman, state media said.

The foreign nationals face charges "of collaborating with the Egyptians (defendants) and providing them with information, equipment and money, as well as broadcasting false information and rumors to convince the international community that Egypt was undergoing a civil war."

The remaining 16 defendants are Egyptians, who face charges "including belonging to a terrorist organization, harming national unity and social peace, and using terrorism as a means to their goals."

Egyptian authorities arrested Greste, Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and Baher Mohamed of Al Jazeera English on December 29. They have been held since.

Egyptian authorities say the journalists held illegal meetings with the Muslim Brotherhood, which was declared a terrorist group in December.

Mohamed Fadel Fahmy's brother, Adel Fahmy, told CNN that his brother's lawyer had confirmed he was among the defendants named in a statement by Egyptian prosecutors.

"It's a big blow. We didn't think things would turn out this way, especially after all the evidence that came out against the accusations," Adel Fahmy said. "We thought things were getting better, but this is taking us back to square one -- even worse."

Brother: 'We're praying and we're hoping'

Adel Fahmy said the family was trying to stay strong. "You have to always keep the hope. We're praying and we're hoping that this is just a tough period that will pass."

He said the family was particularly worried about Mohamed Fadel Fahmy because even Greste, as a foreign citizen in detention, was not getting any protection.

He added, "We have to stay positive. It's completely crazy and the situation in the country is making things worse -- the bombings, the assassinations. The government is trying to save face, but they're making things worse. They're not thinking rationally."